Air driven turbine dental handpiece and air and water connections therefor



March 16, 1965 K. H. BURZLAFF AIR DRIVEN TURBINE DENTAL HANDPIECE AND AIR AND lWATER CONNECTIONS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 28, 1959 INVENTOR. KARL H. BURZLAFF A i?, m L 4l All Nm 112mm A2: Nm 4i 3 All .ww lv @VIV /wm NN I. mm mm m o9 A TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,173,267 AR DRJEN TURilNE DENTAL HANDPIECE AND AIR AND WATER CQNNECTHNS THEREFR Karl H. Burzla, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Ritter Company, Inc., Rochester, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 862,366 19 Claims. (Cl. 32-27) This invention relates to dental drills and more particularly to high speed dental drills of the uid turbine type and the associated duid .connections therefor. In the past, dental drills have been driven at a relatively low rate of speed. However, in recent years the dental proession has recognized the desirable qualities of high speed drills for numerous operations to be performed by the dentist. The dentists are, through-the use of the high `speed drills, :able to perform operations in less time :and with less pain to the patient being operated upon. The reduction in pain suiered by a dental patient as a result ot' the use of high speed drills, results from the water or air `cooling of the dental iburr. It is the dental lburr which so often transmits pain to the patient in the yform of heat caused by the friction of the burr on the tooth.

Due to the extremely high speeds obtainable by air driven high speed drills, there are a number of mechanical problems created thereby, one of which is the excessiveV wear on the turbine bearings necessitating the frequent replacement thereof. `In the past, it `has been necessary for the dentist to interrupt a dental operation .to remove the turbine unit from the head of the high speed drill hand piece and replace the same with a new turbine which is both time consuming :and awkward during an operation. My invention mitigates this problem by providing .-a means by which the @entire dental handpiece is readily removable from the `air 'and water supply lines and easily replaced by a supplementary unit; This may be accomplished in a fraction of the time required to replace the turbine unit.

My invention contemplates a dental handpiece having iluid connections which :are easily separated therefrom, enabling the repair of the operative parts thereof with -a minimum vof effort. v

One of the objects of my invention is to provide -a dental handpiece and uid connection which are readily removable from the fluid supply lines so as to enable the dentist using the same to replace one dental handieee and accompanying iiuid connections with a similar unit with a minimum of eort. Such an arrangement abrogates the necessity of the dentist taking the time necessary to replace an expended turbine While he is in the middle oi an operation.

The use of such high speed drills requires appreciably more attention to .operations on the part of the dentist due to the speed with which said drill performs its function. insofar as possible, it is highly desirable` to have the dental too-l supporting said drilland the accompanying apparatus, relatively free from obstructing the dentists free use thereof, one of the objects of my invention being the provision of a relatively obstruction free handpiece.

Another object lof my invention is to provide means whereby the dental handpiece supporting a high speed air driven drill is rotatably mounted with respect to the ICC particularly set forth in the claims and will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of my invention, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view lapproximately twice normal size 'showing the flow pattern of fluids through the dental handpiece, the uid connections within the dental handpiece, the iiuid supply line connections to lthe dental handpiece, and the exterior of the turbine;

FIG. 2 is anV enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 2 2 of FIG. l looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FiG. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 4 4 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to FIG. 1, the turbine driven handpiece, in general comprises air and water connections generally indicated by the numeral 10, a tubular shell or casing i1, through which the air and water connections extend, and a housing 12, a portion of which encloses and Vsupports a turbine 13. The turbine 13 actuates a dental drill or burr 14.

The casing 11 is of a relatively small diameter designed to iit comfortably in the dentists hand. The housing l?. has an angularly extending neck portion 16 of somewhat smaller diameter than casing 11 and soldered thereto -at i7. Portion 15 is of such diameter and at such an angle to casing il as to conveniently and comfortably receive the dentists fingers during operative utilization thereof. This angularity is not critical to this handpiece and, in fact, the principle of my invention is just as :applicable to a straight-angle handpiece, that is, one in which the axis if the casing l1 is in straight alignment with housing 12. i v

The neck portion 16 and the. handpiece may be formed integral with the casing l1, but Vas shown in this embodiment of my invention, it is desirable to have the two Vparts manufactured separately. Air and wateroonnections 143 are designed for being enclosed by casing 11 and portion 16 of housing 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, the air and water connections V10 are connected by means of an air supply line 22 and water supply line 24 to suitable sources of air and water under pressure. The air and water pressures are controlled by suitable means which do not constitute a part of the present invention Vand* need notk be described. It is sufficient for purposes of this invention to state that the air is under a controlled pressure of twenty to twentytwo pounds and carries -a small, measured quantity of substantially atomized oil for the purpose of lubricating the bearings of the turbine 13 and la rotor bearing of the air and water connection presently to be described. The water, usually from a municipal supply but at a controlled pressure and volume, ilows through thetube or supply Vline 24 and the air under controlled pressure and volume,

ows through a tube 22 concentric with tube 24.

The flowage of water and air through the dental handpiece and associated parts is shown schematically by arrows in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The dow of water is shown by broken line arrows and the ilow of air and atomized oil is shown by solid line arrows.

Tube 22 is preferably of a resilient material 'enabling the dentist to have a ilexible, rclatiyely free moving sup.-

ply line. Tube 22 is rigidly connected to a casing 26 within a groove 28 cut circumferentially in casing 26. This casing has a bore cut longitudinally therethrough consisting of a small diameter portion 30 and a large diameter portion 31. The tube 24, smaller than and concentric with tube 22, is preferably of a resilient material adapted for receiving a conductor 32 which cornplements the interior surface of tube 24 into which it is inserted as shown in FIG. 2. The right end, as viewed in FIG. 2 of conductor 32, fits within and is rigidly connected to the periphery of a hole 33 bored transversely in the left end of a female connector 34 as viewed in FIG. 2.

Connector 34 has a plurality of holes 35 bored radially therein which intersect portion 30 of the longitudinal bore of casing 26. A projected portion 36 of connector 34 is rigidly mounted to the periphery of portion 31 of the bore of casing 26 as shown in FIG. 2. This arrangement enables the air flowing from tube 22 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, to enter bore 30, ow around female connector 34 to the plurality of holes 35.

Connector 34 has an elongated portion 37 extending to the right of projected portion 36, as viewed in FIG. 2, adapted to be engaged and surrounded by a needle bearing 38 rigidly mounted within a casing 39. Casing 39 and bearing 38 are secured in their respective positions shown in FIG. 2 relative to portion 37 of female connector 34 by means of a snap-on retaining ring 40 rotatably mounted Vin a groove 42 cut circumferentially of the eX- terior of portion 37 of connector 34. Ring 40 has a plurality of perforations 44 cut transversely therethrough.

An interior bore 46 of female connector 34 is adapted for receiving an adaptor or male connector 48. Male connector 48 has three flanges 50, 51 and 52 at the left hand end as viewed in FG. 2, created hy three grooves 53, 54 and 55 cut circumferentially of male connector 48. A seal 56 and a seal 57 t within grooves 53 and 55 respectively and engage both the male and the female connectors creating a seal between the two connectors at the points of contact for a purpose hereinafter revealed. A plurality of holes 58 cut radially in male connector 48 permit the air owing through holes and around groove 54 to enter therethrough and be discharged into a medium size bore 59, cut in the male connector 48. A smaller bore 60 of male connector 48 extending substantially from flange 50 to ange 51, is adapted for receiving a conductor 62 rigidly mounted within the periphery of bore 60. Conductor 62 extends to the right with respect to FIG. 2 running concentrically through the center of bore 59. A centering spacer ring 63 having a plurality of perforations 64 encompasses male connector 48. Ring 63 is retained between a circumferential protrusion 65 of male connector 48 and a resilient ring 66. Ring 63 is designed to center male connector 48, with respect to casing 11. Perforations 64 permit air and oil Yto ow therethrough.

Substantially, the last half of male connector 48 has a bore 67 appreciably larger than bore 59. Conductor 62 curves from the center of bore 59 at the left end thereof as viewed in FIG. 2, to the periphery thereof at the right end of bore 59.- An adapter 68 has a hole 69, complementing the exterior periphery of connector 48, in which the right end, as viewed in FIG. 2, of male connector 48 is rigidly mounted. Adapter 68 has a bore 7(1)V of such size as to receive the right end as viewed in FIG. 2 of conductor 62. The curve in conductor 62 described above vis necessary in order for conductor 62 to engage bore 70 which is off Vcenter with respect to bore 59. A conductor 71 is rigidly mounted in bore 70 and abuts conductor 62. A bore 72 cut transversely through adapter 68 is designed to receive a conductor 73 rigidly mounted therein. Thus, it will be seen that the water conducted through conductor 62 is,by means of the adapter 68,

channeled into a conductor '71. The air flowing in bore 59 concentrically with conductor 62 is channeled, by means of adapter 68, into a conductor 73 which is nonconcentric with but parallel to Water conductor 71.

Casing 11 shrouds conductors 71, 73, adapter 68 and substantially the right half, as viewed in FIG. 2, of male connector 48 and is threaded at 74 to casing 39.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, conductor 73 is rigidly mounted in a bore 75 of a plug 76, the cross section of which is shown in FIG. 4. Conductor 71 is rigidly mounted in a bore 77 of plug 76. Plug 76 is rigidly mounted within neck portion 16 of housing 12. Thus, it is seen that casing 11, housing 12, male connector 48 and all of the various conductors conducting water and air from male connector 48 to plug 76 are composite and are rotatably mounted with respect to female connector 34 by means of bearings 38 and casing 39 to which casing 11 is threaded at 74.

Referring to FIG. 2, in operation, the air under pressure carrying a small percentage of atomized oil and theY water under pressure, low concentricV with each other through supply lines 22 and 24. The water flows through conductor 32 into a cavity 78 created by ange 50 and the left hand end of bore 46 of female connector 34 where the water is sealed olf from the air and atomized oil by means of seal 56. The water then flows to the right with respect to FIG. 2 in conductor 62 through Y adapter 63, into conductor 71 and through an angular bore 79 of plug 76. An arrow 80 designates the direction in which the water is discharged from bore 79 and sprayed onto the operative area on which the burr 14 is drilling. Spraying water onto the operative area cools the tooth and minimizes pain caused by friction between the tooth and dental burr.

Referring to FIG. 2, the air and oil flow in the direction indicated by the solid line arrows commencing with tube 22. From tube 22, the air and oil llow into casing 26, through holes 35 and into groove 54 where the air and oil are sealed olf from the water by seal 56 regardless of whether male connector 48 is being rotated within female connector 34. The air and oil are distributed by groove 54 to holes 58, into a circular space created between bore 59 and conductor 62, into bore 67, and are channeled into adapter 68. Adapter 68 discharges the air and oil into a conductor 73 running parallel with conductor 71 which conducts water.

The air and atomized oil ow from conductor 73 into a bore 81 (FIGS. 3 `and 4) drilled through plug 76 and enter the turbine 13 at 82 (FIG. 3). The air and atomized oil drive turbine 13 as shown in FIG. 3. A portion of the air and atomized oil is discharged into a lower bearing 83 of turbine 13 and then dispersed through three holes 84 at the bottom of housing 12 where the air atomizes the water being discharged out of bore 79. A portion of the air and oil is discharged into an upper bearing 85 of turbine 13, then dispersed through three holes 86 into a slot 87 cut vertically in la threaded turbine cover plate 88 and then discharged into the atmosphere. The oil carried in the air lubricates bearings S3 and 85.

The largest volume of air and atomized oil is carried by turbine 13 to a rectangular hole 89 in housing 12 where it ows through a passage 90 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of plug 76 and into a portion 91 of casing 16 which constitutes all of the bore of casing 16 not occupied by conductors 71 and 73. The air and oil are channeled to an adapter` 92 where the air passes through a bore V93 cut through adapter 92. The air and atomized oil ilow into an interior cavity 94 of casing 11, through perforations 64 in spacer ring 63, through perforations 44 of snap-on retaining ring 40 and into bearing 38 which is lubricated by the oil carried in the air. Air and surplus oil are discharged through a crevasse 99 between casing 39 and projection 36 of female connector 34. The arrows V1135i indicate where the'air and surplus oil enter the atmosphere.

Thus, it will be seen that this novel invention enables the dentist to freely rotate the dental handpiece with respect to water and air supply connections 22 and 24 without interfering with the delivery of air or water pressure from the supply lines to the points of discharge within the denial handpiece and also provides a convenient means for removing the dental handpiece from the supply lines for replacement thereof by a similar unit when it is necessary to replace the turbine 13 during an operation. It will also be obvious that this invention provides a means for lubricating all of the bearings associated with the dental handpiece.

While I have shown and described the preferred means of my invention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein, particularly in the form and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention `as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. in combination with a dental handpiece member having a turbine for driving a dental tool and a fluids supply line member, conduit means having two separate channels through which said air and water fluids are conducted separately from sources of supply; a first conductor through which a first `of said fluids is conducted; a second conductor through which a second of said fluids is conducted, said second conductor being concentric with said first conductor, both said conductors being rotatably mounted relative to said conduit means, and connector means intermediate said conduit means and said conductors for channeling said first fluid from said conduit means substantially radially to said first conductor and for channeling said second fluid from said conduit means to said second conductor without commingling or interrupting flow of said fluids during relative rotation of said conduit means and said conductors.

2. Dental apparatus in accordance with claim l in which said conduit means comprises a tube through which the first of said fluids is conducted and a casing concentric with said tube through which the second of said fluids is conducted; and in which said connector means comprises, ya female connector having an opening adapted to receive one end of said tube and having at least one hole communicating With the inside of said casing; a male connector having lan opening adapted to receive one end of said first conductor and communicating with said tube for conducting said first uid, a peripheral groove communicating with said female hole for receiving said second fluid from said casing, and at least one opening extending from said peripheral groove to said second conductor, and sealing means between said male and female connectors for preventing any commingling of said first and second fluids.

3. A rotatable dental handpiece and fluid connection-s therefor; said handpiece having a turbine for driving a dental tool, female connector means, two separate concentric channels through lone of which air and atomized oil is conducted to said female connector and through the other of which water is conducted to said female connector; a first conductor through which said air and atomized oil is conducted; a second conductor through which said Water is conducted, said second conductor being concentric with said first conductor; male connector means rotatably mounted to said female connector means for separately channeling said air and atomized oil mixture from said female connector means to said first conductor and said Water from said female connector means to said second conductor; a third conductor, connected at one end to said turbine; a fourth conductor parallel and non-concentric lto said third conductor terminating at a discharge point close to a dental tool driven by said turbine; 'adaptor means connecting said conductors for channeling said air and atomized oil mixture from said first conductor to said third `conductor and said Water from said second :conductor to said fourth conductor; a first casing rigidly connected to said male connector means; said iirst casing communicating with said turbine to receive expended air and atomized oil mixture; a rotor to which said casing is rigidly connectable; bearing means rigidly mounted within said rotor and rotatably engaging said female connector means, said bearing means enabling the rotation of said male connector means within said female connector means, said first casing conducting air and atomized oil mixture to said bearing means enabling the lubrication thereof, and a passage between said bearing means and said female connector means permitting discharge of air and atomized oil mixture.

4. A dental handpiece and fluid connections therefor, said handpiece having a turbine for driving a dental tool, a pair of connector members joining said handpiece and connections, each connector member having conduit means for separately channeling air and water, means rotatably mounting said members with respect to each other, and said connector members including fluid separating means intermediate said connector members separately channeling air and water from said conduit means of one connector member to the conduit means of the other connector member without interrupting the separated flow of air and water between said connector members during relative rotation of said members.

5. Air and water connections in accordance with claim 4 in which said conduit means of each of said connector members comprises concentric conduits and in which said fluid separating means includes substantially radial passages in each of said connector members in uninterrupted communication during relative rotation of said members, seal means between the inner concentric conduits of each connector member, and seal means between the outer concentric conduits and surrounding said passages.

6. Dental apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including adaptor means intermediate said turbine and a first of said connector members separately channeling air and water from the concentric conduits thereof to substantially parallel conduits, one of which parallel conduits carries air to said turbine.

7. Dental apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said rotatable means comprises bearings intermediate said handpiece and one of said connector members, and including conduit means communicating between said turbine and said bearings for conducting expended air carrying atomized oil from the turbine to the bearings for lubrication thereof.

8. In combination with a dental handpiece having a turbine for driving a dental tool and a fluids supply line member, female connector means mounted on one of said members and having a closed end with a hole in said closed end and a plurality of radial bores, channels in said one member for conducting air and water, one of which channels communicates with said plurality of radial bores and the other of which channels communicates with said hole; a rst conductor; a second conductor being smaller in diameter and concentric with said first conductor; male connector means mounted on the other of said members and rotatably received in said female connector means for separately communicating between said plurality of bores and one of said conductors and between said hole and the other of said conductors without commingling or interrupting the flow of air and water during relative rotation of said female and male connector means.

9. Air and water connections in accordance with claim 8 including seal means preventing any commingling of said water and air while being channeled between said female connector and said male connector means, comprising, in combination, a first radial flange on one of said connector means encompassing said other conductor, a second and a third radial flange on one of said connector means and respectively encompassing an inboard 'E' Y S and an outboard side of said plurality of radial bores and nector means rotate as a unit with respect to said female two annular seals respectively seated between said rst connector means. and second flanges and on the outboard side of said third* ganga References Cited in the iile of this patent 10. Dental apparatus, in accordance with claim '8 in- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS cludng a casing rigidly connected to said male connector means` bearing means to which said casing is rigidly con- 'yZg nectable rotatably engaging said female connector means such that said bearing means, casing, and said male con- 3061'337 Shaw et al Oct* 30 1962 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A DENTAL HANDPIECE MEMBER HAVING A TURBINE FOR DRIVING A DENTAL TOOL AND A FLUIDS SUPPLY LINE MEMBER, CONDUIT MEANS HAVING TWO SEPARATE CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH SAID AIR AND WATER FLUIDS ARE CONDUCTED SEPARATELY FROM SOURCES OF SUPPLY; A FIRST CONDUCTOR THROUGH WHICH A FIRST OF SAID FLUIDS IS CONDUCTED; A SECOND CONDUCTOR THROUGH WHICH A SECOND OF SAID FLUIDS IS CONDUCTED, SAID SECOND CONDUCTOR BEING CONCENTRIC WITH SAID FIRST CONDUCTOR, BOTH SAID CONDUCTORS BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID CONDUIT MEANS, AND CONNECTOR MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID CONDUIT MEANS AND SAID CONDUCTORS FOR CHANNELING SAID FIRST FLUID FROM SAID CONDUIT MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY TO SAID FIRST CONDUCTOR AND FOR CHANNELING SAID SECOND FLUID FROM SAID CONDUIT MEANS TO SAID SECOND CONDUCTOR WITHOUT COMMINGLING OR INTERRUPTING FLOW OF SAID FLUIDS DURING RELATIVE ROTATION OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS AND SAID CONDUCTORS. 